Receptacle handling device



Aug. 30, 1955 R. w. WILSON 2, 6,

RECEPTACLE HANDLING DEVICE 7 Filed June 10, 1953 J 5 Sheets-Sheet l o [57 35 37 42b 30a 30b N 8 INVENTOR. m RAYMOND w. WILSON m BY WZM b AND Mam ATTORNEYS Aug. 30, 1955 R. w. WILSON 2,716,502

RECEPTACLE HANDLING DEVICE Filed June 10, 1955 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTOR. 32 2 RAYMOND w. WILSON 35 36 BY yxdM AND Manur- ATTORNEYS United States Patent RECEPTACLE HANDLING DEVICE Raymond W. Wilson, Ferndale, Mich., assignor, by mesne assignments, to Ford Motor Company, Dearborn, Mich., a corporation of Delaware Application June 10, 1953, Serial No. 360,641

4 Claims. (Cl. 214-313) The present invention relates to a material handling apparatus and, more particularly, to a device for the handling and dumping of receptacles containing flowable material.

In an earlier filed application of Walter W. Sewell and myself, Serial No. 310,228, filed September 18, 1952, and i assigned to the assignee of the present invention, there is disclosed a generally similar receptacle handling apparatus. Such apparatus includes a tractor-mounted loader or similar device having a vertically movable, load-supporting boom. The receptacle handling mechanism is attached to the boom and includes a receptacle-engaging arm pivotally connected to a support structure for relative movement upon actuation of a power means, such as a hydraulically actuated cylinder.

The present invention is particularly concerned with the provision of an improved receptacle carrying and dumping structure and with an improved latch assembly actuatable during dumping of a receptacle to prevent displacement of the receptacle from the carrying and dumping mechanism.

It is, therefore, an important object of the present invention to provide an improved receptacle handling and dumping mechanism of the type attachable toa vertically movable boom. k

Another important object, is provision of a handling apparatus having a receptacle-engaging dumping arm and a support arm which are relatively movable to dump a receptacle upon actuation of a power source interposed between and protected by the elevating and dumping structure.

it is a further object to provide an improved receptacle handling device having a power-actuated dumping mechanism for at least partially inverting a receptacle and provided with a latch mechanism operable to prevent displacement of the receptacle during dumping.

Yet another object of the present invention is the provision of a receptacle dumping device having generally vertically aligned supporting and dumping arms and power-energized means for effecting relative movement of t.

the arms to dump the receptacle and also having automatically operable means energized upon arm movement to prevent displacement of the receptacle.

The specific nature of this invention, as well 'as other Objects and advantages thereof, will become apparent to those skilled in the art from the following detailed description, taken in conjunction with the attached sheets of drawings on which, by way of preferred example only, is illustrated one embodiment of this invention.

On the drawings: t I

Figure 1 is an elevational view of a material handling apparatus of the present invention;

Figure 2 is an enlarged, broken, fragmentary plan view of the apparatus of Figure 1; p i

Figure 3 is a sectional view, with parts shown in elevation, taken along the plane 33 of Figure 2;

Figure'4 is an enlarged sectional view, with parts shown in elevation, taken along the plane 44 of Figure 2;

Figure 5 is an enlarged sectional view taken along the plane 5-5 of Figure 3;

Figure 6 is a fragmentary side elevational view similarto Figure 1 particularly illustrating the receptacle du'mping mechanism;

Figure 7 is a view similar to Figure 6 showing the dumping mechanism in an adjusted position;

Figure 8 is a view similar to Figure 7 showing the dumping mechanism in another adjusted position; and

Figure 9 isan enlarged fragmentary sectional view illustrating in greater detail the receptacle latching mechanism when the dumping mechanism is in the position of Figure 8. i

As shown on the drawings:

In Figure 1, reference numeral 10 refers generally to a tractor or similar prime mover upon which is disposed a material handling apparatus of'the present invention indicated generally by referencenumeral 11.

More particularly, the device 11 includes a main structural frame 12 fixedly mounted upon the tractor 10 and including a pair of laterally spaced support plates 13 fixedly mounted upon the its lower forward end to the tractor frame. The members 14 and 15 define a laterally extending pivot axis 16 at their point of boom 17 is pivoted raised and lowered by a main hydraulic lifting cylinder 18 pivotedto the rear axle bracket 13 and powered by hydraulic fluid under pressure generated by the prime mover 10and controlled through a valve 19 mounted on the frame 12. a laterally spaced pair of generally vertical support plates 20, best illustrated in Figure 4. It will be appreciated that a pair of booms 17 are provided and that laterally spaced pairs of plates 20 are secured to the free front ends of the booms, as by pivot pins 21.

The free upper ends of the inner platest20 are connected to the upper ends'of adjacent plates 20a by pivot pins 22 which pivotally mount to the plates 20 and 20a an elongated stabilizer rod 23. stabilizer rods 23 are connected to upstanding brackets 24 mounted at the loader frame 12 in alignment with the axes 16. The upstanding brackets 24 are reinforced by a fixed, downwardly and rearwardly extending brace element 25 fixed to the rear axle bracket 13. The distance between the pivotpins 21 and 22 is substantially the same as the distance between the boom axes 16 and the pivot pins 26 joining the stabilizer bars 23 to the brackets 24. Also, the stabilizer bars 23 are of substantially the same length as the booms 17. Thus, it will be appreciated that a parallelogram is formed between booms 17, the plates 20 and 20a, thestabilizer rods 23, and the brackets 24, so that a parallel lifting action is obtained and the plates 20 and 20a always lie in a vertical plane which is substantially normal to the ground' level.

The plates 20 and Where joined by a laterally extending, tubular main frame element 28 which also serves to laterally rigidify the booms 17. Additionally, the plates are joined by a lowertubular element 29 which has rigidly secured thereto a forwardly extending lift arm 30. As

best illustrated in Figures 3 and 4, the lift arms 30 are preferably formed of channel stock having upstanding side walls 30a and a lower bottom wall 30b. The lift arms are additionally braced by downwardly and forwardly ex- Patented Aug. 30, 1955 tractor rear axle to carry a forwardly and upwardly inclined support post 14 joined intermediate the tractor wheel base to a forwardly and downwardly extended brace 15 which is connectable at juncture, and a vertically swingablev on the axis 16. The boom 17 is The boom 17 carries at its front end The rear ends of the of each of the arms. These plates 32- are rigid withthe arms 30 and serve to provide a carrying means for aniupper' pivot bearing 33'journaling a hydraulically actuated cylinder'34i associated with each lift arm, as will be hereafter more fully described.

Adjacenttheextreme forward end of each of thelift' arti1s 30; there is-provided' a laterally extended pivot pin 35: carrying a pair: of generally triangular pivotplates 36,

one suchzplate beingimounted immediately inwardly from each side wall 30a. A cylindrical bushing 37 extends between the pivot plates 36 to maintain the lateral spacing thereof and: to: reinforce the bearing pin. The rear apexesof each ofthe plates 36 carries a mountingipin 38 secured to the clevis 39 of the actuating rod 40 of the associated hydraulic cylinder 34.

The plates 36, as best seen in Figure 5', are rigidly secured, asby welding, to the downturned side walls 42a of a dumping, arm indicated generally at 42 and formed of channel stock substantially the same width: as the stock forming the liftarm 3th. The web portion of the channel arms 42 forms an upper wall 42b which overlies the associated cylinder 34.

Thus,.it will be seen that upon actuation of the cylinders 3 4, the dumping arm 42 is moved relatively to the lift arm- 30 to assume any one of a plurality of relatively pivoted positions, as illustrated in Figures 6 through 8,.inclusive. The rear ends of the dumping arms 42' are joined' by a laterally extending tubular structural element 43', and'the rear ends of the dumping arms side walls 42a each carry upstanding stop plates indicatedgenerally at. 44'. Each stop plate 44-provides a central notch 45 lying immediately rearwardly of an upwardly enlarged guide portion 46 and forwardly of a concave rear surface 47 which terminates in adownwardly facingstop surface 48' for a purpose to be hereinafter more fully described.

Adjacent the forward ends of the dump arms 42, there is provided a notch 49 formed in the upper or cover wall' 425 and'in the side walls 42a. The pivot plates 36.

are similarlynotched, as at 36a, to provide a laterallyextended recess.

The lift arms 30 and the dumping arms 42- are adapted to elevate anddump the receptacle best illustrated in Figures 1, 2 and 6-8. This receptacle is indicated generally at 50 and preferably takes the form of an inverted square frustum-pyramid. More particularly, the box is substantially square" in cross-section and comprises sheet metal side and end walls 51 which are spot welded to one another and to a metal bottom wall 52 to enclose anzinterior'space. The box side and end walls taper'downwardly: and inwardly, and the upper ends of the Walls partially lap tubular reinforcing elenents 53 which project: outwardly beyond the associated ends to form later-- ally and longitudinally extending trunnions 54 projecting beyond each of the four corners of the box. receptaclebox is square and the trunnions 54 project beyond each of the corners thereof, it will be appreciated thatthe receptacle may be picked up from any direction so long as one pair of side or end walls are substantially parallel to the lifting and dumping arms as shown in Figure 2. Further, the upper extremities of the side and end walls at least partially lap the trunnion elements 53 intermediate the receptacle corners and the lapping wall e portions are secured, as by spot welding, to the'trunnion elements. Thus, the receptacle is suspended from the tubular elements 53.

Therec'eptacle is more fully described and claimed in theco'pending application of W. A. Schaich, Serial No.

Since the 4, 360,667,. filed. June 10,. 1.953 and now abandoned, and assigned to the assignee of the present invention.

From Figures 2 and 3, it will be seen that the longitudinal distance between the notches 45 at the rear ends of the dump arms 42 and the notches 49 at the forward end thereof is substantially equal to the length of one side of the square receptacle 50 and that the trunnions 54 of the receptaeleare received by the notches 4S and 49 when the lift-arms30 and the dumping arms 42 are inserted beneath the trunnions and the boom iselevated. Upon subsequent actuation off the cylinders 34', the dump arms 42 and the receptacle 50 carried thereby will be elevated aboutthepivot' pin 35 joining the dumping arms to the lift arms.

It will be appreciated that it is necessary to retain the receptacle trunnions 54 in the notches 45 and 49 when the receptacle is in the fully dumped position of Figure 8. To retain the receptacle the latch mechanism best illustratedinFigures 3' Sand 9- is-utilizedi This latchmecha nismincludesa latch linl 56 pivoted at one end, as-about pivot pin 57, to the side walls 30:: of the lift arms and pivotallyconnected at its-freeend, as through pin 58, to a depending ear'59 formed on the latch arm which is medially pivoted at 61 t'oth'e dumparm-pivot plates 36. The: free for-ward endsof'the latch arm terminate in the rearwardly and upwardly directed latch. extension or finger 62 which isadapted to overlie the forward recep-- taele'trunnien54 whennie receptacle is-'in itsdumping po-' sition.- The op'eration of the latehingmechanism will be appreciated sincethe pivot movement of the latch lever 56about it's pin 57is eccentric with respect tothe axes of dumping movement of the dumparms 42" and the increase inthe distance between thepivot pins 57' and 61 during: dumpin movement 4 will" cause the latching finger 62' to overlie the trunnion 54.

-When the receptacle is init's dumping position, it will ben'oted that the: rear lateral trunnions" 54=' will abut the horizontal stop surface 48 overlying the notch 45* and provides improved receptacle handling and dumping mech-- "anism'; Tfhe dumping-aotuating-means,-i. e; the cylinders 34; are: entirely'enc'losed within-the ch'annelledlifting and dumping; arms 30 and 42,- respectively, when the device isin its: position. of Figure 1, so that the cylinders are completely protected. Adsmlhepositioning of the dumping axes at the extreme forward end of the lift armselevates the receptacle: during dumping movement and additional; dumpingheightiis'obtained; Further, the receptaclezis fully ICtalIlGd'OIIt thedumping arms whenin its partially inverted dumping position,v so that there is no possibility for: displacement); of: the receptacle duringdumping;

1t-will,=ofcourse,.be understoo'd thatvarious details of construction may be=var=ied through.- a Wide range Without departingfrom the principles; ofthis invention and it is,

F and lowering" said lift" arms, adumping arm overlying each of said lift arrtis respectively and piv'otally connected thereto: for movement withsaidlift arms and for independent movement relative thereto; means operatively interposed between associated lifti'arms and dumping arms for effecting such: relative" movement, said dumping arms being, adapted to: engage the receptacle trunnions to elevate the receptacle'and to partially invert the same upon relative liftarm-dumping arm movement, and; a latching structure. for preventing displacement of said' receptacle from said dumping arms,

including an articulated linkage pivoted to said lift arms in spaced relation to the pivoted connection of said dumping arms thereto and pivoted to said dumping arms in spaced relation to the dumping arms-trunnions engagement, and a latching extension carried by said linkage to overlie one of said trunnions.

2. In a receptacle handling device for use with a receptacle having a pair of longitudinally spaced laterally extending trunnions, a pair of laterally spaced vertically movable lift arms having freely projecting forward ends, a dumping arm respectively overlying each of said lift arms, means pivotally interconnecting the forward ends of said lift arms and said dumping arms. said dumping arms having notches adjacent the forward ends thereof to receive corresponding trunnions on said receptacle and said dumping arms supportingly engaging the other trunnions of said pair, means for effecting relative pivotal movement of said dumping arms about saidpivotal interconnections, a latch link pivoted to one of said lift arms in spaced relation to said pivotal interconnection, a latch arm pivoted to the free end of said latch link and to said dumping arm, and an arcuate latching finger on said latch arm adapted to overlie said notch when said dumping arm is moved to prevent displacement of said trunnions therefrom.

3. A receptacle handling device for use with a receptacle having laterally projecting trunnions, comprising a pair of laterally spaced lift arms, means for elevating and lowering said lift arms, a dumping armoverlying each of said lift arms respectively and pivotally connected thereto for movement with said lift arms and for pivoted movement relative thereto, means operatively interposed between the associated lift arms and dumping arms for effecting such relative movement, said dumping arms being adapted to engage the receptacle trunnions to elevate the receptacle and to partially invert the same upon relative lift arm-dumping arm movement, and a latching structure for preventing displacement of said receptacle trunnions from said dumping arms, including a pair of articulated links pivoted to said lift arms and to said dumping arms, respectively, for relative movement upon elevation of said dumping arms, and a latching extension carried by said linkage to overlie one of said trunnions upon such relative movement.

4. In a receptacle handling device for use with a receptacle having opposing laterally extending trunnions, a pair of laterally spaced vertically movable lift arms having freely projecting forward ends, a dumping arm respectively overlying said lift arms, means pivotally interconnecting the forward ends of said lift arms and said dumping arms, said dumping arms having notches adjacent the forward ends thereof to receive corresponding trunnions on said receptacle, means for effecting relative pivotal movement of said dumping arms about said pivotal interconnections, a latch link having one end pivoted to one of said lift arms in spaced relation to said pivotal interconnection, a latch arm having one end pivoted to the free end of said latch link and medially pivoted to said dumping arm, and an arcuate latching finger on the other end of said latch arm adapted to over lie said notch when said dumping arm is moved to prevent displacement of said trunnions therefrom.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,753,756 Small Apr. 8, 1930 2,304,649 McDaniels Dec. 8, 1942 2,626,070 Ezell et al. Jan. 20, 1953 2,645,369 Allan July 14, 1953 

